diff --git a/changelog/snippets/fix.7138.md b/changelog/snippets/fix.7138.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2bcef635343
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/snippets/fix.7138.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+- (#7138) Fix default target priorities that use parentheses to enable richer category parsing using normal category parsing instead.
diff --git a/lua/sim/weapon.lua b/lua/sim/weapon.lua
index 8f584618a07..13408dc9632 100644
--- a/lua/sim/weapon.lua
+++ b/lua/sim/weapon.lua
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ local function ParsePriorities()
             end
             for _, priority in priorities do
                 if not finalPriorities[priority] then
-                    if StringFind(priority, '%(', 1, true) then
+                    if StringFind(priority, '(', 1, true) then
                         finalPriorities[priority] = ParseEntityCategoryProperly(priority)
                     else
                         finalPriorities[priority] = ParseEntityCategory(priority)
diff --git a/units/UAA0204/UAA0204_unit.bp b/units/UAA0204/UAA0204_unit.bp
index a28f0cb8351..1f533f1593c 100644
--- a/units/UAA0204/UAA0204_unit.bp
+++ b/units/UAA0204/UAA0204_unit.bp
@@ -235,12 +235,12 @@ UnitBlueprint{
             RateOfFire = 10/100, --10/integer interval in ticks
             TargetPriorities = {
                 "CRUISER",
-                "(NAVAL * TECH2 * SHIELD)",
-                "(STRUCTURE * DEFENSE * ANTIAIR)",
-                "(TECH3 * NAVAL * CARRIER)",
+                "NAVAL TECH2 SHIELD",
+                "STRUCTURE DEFENSE ANTIAIR",
+                "TECH3 NAVAL CARRIER",
                 "SUBMERSIBLE",
-                "NAVAL * TECH2",
-                "NAVAL * TECH3",
+                "NAVAL TECH2",
+                "NAVAL TECH3",
                 "MOBILE",
                 "(STRUCTURE * DEFENSE - ANTIMISSILE)",
                 "ALLUNITS",
diff --git a/units/UEA0204/UEA0204_unit.bp b/units/UEA0204/UEA0204_unit.bp
index 702122dd086..b18280284dd 100644
--- a/units/UEA0204/UEA0204_unit.bp
+++ b/units/UEA0204/UEA0204_unit.bp
@@ -243,12 +243,12 @@ UnitBlueprint{
             RateOfFire = 10/100, --10/integer interval in ticks
             TargetPriorities = {
                 "CRUISER",
-                "(NAVAL * TECH2 * SHIELD)",
-                "(STRUCTURE * DEFENSE * ANTIAIR)",
-                "(TECH3 * NAVAL * CARRIER)",
+                "NAVAL TECH2 SHIELD",
+                "STRUCTURE DEFENSE ANTIAIR",
+                "TECH3 NAVAL CARRIER",
                 "SUBMERSIBLE",
-                "NAVAL * TECH2",
-                "NAVAL * TECH3",
+                "NAVAL TECH2",
+                "NAVAL TECH3",
                 "MOBILE",
                 "(STRUCTURE * DEFENSE - ANTIMISSILE)",
                 "ALLUNITS",
diff --git a/units/URA0204/URA0204_unit.bp b/units/URA0204/URA0204_unit.bp
index 9fda9ee3be5..8834d318e0b 100644
--- a/units/URA0204/URA0204_unit.bp
+++ b/units/URA0204/URA0204_unit.bp
@@ -242,12 +242,12 @@ UnitBlueprint{
             RateOfFire = 10/100, --10/integer interval in ticks
             TargetPriorities = {
                 "CRUISER",
-                "(NAVAL * TECH2 * SHIELD)",
-                "(STRUCTURE * DEFENSE * ANTIAIR)",
-                "(TECH3 * NAVAL * CARRIER)",
+                "NAVAL TECH2 SHIELD",
+                "STRUCTURE DEFENSE ANTIAIR",
+                "TECH3 NAVAL CARRIER",
                 "SUBMERSIBLE",
-                "NAVAL * TECH2",
-                "NAVAL * TECH3",
+                "NAVAL TECH2",
+                "NAVAL TECH3",
                 "MOBILE",
                 "(STRUCTURE * DEFENSE - ANTIMISSILE)",
                 "ALLUNITS",
diff --git a/units/XAA0306/XAA0306_unit.bp b/units/XAA0306/XAA0306_unit.bp
index f57cbf067fd..e8471e540c2 100644
--- a/units/XAA0306/XAA0306_unit.bp
+++ b/units/XAA0306/XAA0306_unit.bp
@@ -235,15 +235,15 @@ UnitBlueprint{
             RateOfFire = 10/100, --10/integer interval in ticks
             TargetPriorities = {
                 "CRUISER",
-                "(NAVAL * TECH2 * SHIELD)",
-                "(TECH3 * STRUCTURE * DEFENSE * ANTIAIR)",
-                "(TECH3 * NAVAL * CARRIER)",
+                "NAVAL TECH2 SHIELD",
+                "TECH3 STRUCTURE DEFENSE ANTIAIR",
+                "TECH3 NAVAL CARRIER",
                 "(SUBMERSIBLE - TECH1)",
-                "(NAVAL * TECH2)",
-                "(NAVAL * TECH3)",
+                "NAVAL TECH2",
+                "NAVAL TECH3",
                 "SUBMERSIBLE",
                 "MOBILE",
-                "(STRUCTURE * DEFENSE * ANTIAIR)",
+                "STRUCTURE DEFENSE ANTIAIR",
                 "(STRUCTURE * DEFENSE - ANTIMISSILE)",
                 "ALLUNITS",
             },
diff --git a/units/XSA0204/XSA0204_unit.bp b/units/XSA0204/XSA0204_unit.bp
index 754442a5860..a0dccf07474 100644
--- a/units/XSA0204/XSA0204_unit.bp
+++ b/units/XSA0204/XSA0204_unit.bp
@@ -234,12 +234,12 @@ UnitBlueprint{
             RateOfFire = 10/100, --10/integer interval in ticks
             TargetPriorities = {
                 "CRUISER",
-                "(NAVAL * TECH2 * SHIELD)",
-                "(STRUCTURE * DEFENSE * ANTIAIR)",
-                "(TECH3 * NAVAL * CARRIER)",
+                "NAVAL TECH2 SHIELD",
+                "STRUCTURE DEFENSE ANTIAIR",
+                "TECH3 NAVAL CARRIER",
                 "SUBMERSIBLE",
-                "NAVAL * TECH2",
-                "NAVAL * TECH3",
+                "NAVAL TECH2",
+                "NAVAL TECH3",
                 "MOBILE",
                 "(STRUCTURE * DEFENSE - ANTIMISSILE)",
                 "ALLUNITS",